Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

Mental patients have broad minds, and young people with two strokes have a lot of joy.

As a teacher, the most fearful thing is to meet a student like Zhu Gaoxu, who has a broad mind and is irritable and restless.

Fortunately, Jiang Xinghuo was able to force him back.

"We're just talking about a normal exchange."

Jiang Xinghuo said seriously: "The higher the frequency and the larger the scale of exchange, the more difficult it becomes to exchange different items with each other. Even if barter transactions can be established, it will consume too much manpower, material resources and time, and the exchange efficiency will be low. It seriously hindered the development of production, so something that could be used as a medium of exchange was bound to emerge."

"——This thing is the general equivalent!"

Zhu Gaoxu put down the stone and stopped being irritable, and asked curiously: "Mr. Jiang, what is a general equivalent?"

Jiang Xinghuo also put down the leaves in his hands and spoke softly.

"Not to mention the rigorous definition, to put it simply, it is equivalent items that are specially used as exchange items, such as sheepskins, rice, shells, etc."

"This is easy to understand. It is indeed an item used to exchange items." Zhu Gaoxu nodded and said.

Li Jinglong curled his lips, a little disapproving of this.

I thought Jiang Xinghuo was going to talk about something profound, but to put it bluntly, it was just ordinary people buying and selling things.

That being said, Li Jinglong tightened his grip on the branch in his hand. My 'meat' is the most valuable.

Beyond the wall, there is a secret room.

After hearing this, Xia Yuanji finally showed a serious look for the first time.

Unlike Li Jinglong, Xia Yuanji is the God of Wealth of the Ming Dynasty and is really in charge of the money bag.

It is precisely because of this that Xia Yuanji is extremely sensitive to anything involving "money".

"General equivalents" Xia Yuanji murmured.

Zhu Di asked leisurely: "What's wrong with Xia Shangshu?"

"It's nothing." Xia Yuanji admitted frankly, "I just suddenly felt that what the person opposite had said until now seemed a little interesting. Although I am in charge of the world's money for His Majesty, to be honest, I have never thought about it." Where did the money' thing come from, because what did it come from, it's like..."

"It's like it's a natural thing, it's the way it should be, right?" Zhu Di added.

Xia Yuanji suddenly understood and nodded immediately.

As Zhu Di described it, as long as the word "money" is mentioned, everyone knows what money is.

But how does "money" come into being and how does it develop?

If you ask this question to others, not to mention ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty, even most officials will probably look at a loss.

Only officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs who are engaged in managing the country and benefiting the people, or old scholars who are well-read, may be able to tell something from historical records.

But if you want to think of Jiang Xinghuo, who can explain the emergence and development of "money" in such a clear and orderly manner, I'm afraid Daming will not be able to find another person.

Xia Yuanji's attitude began to change quietly, and he gradually put away his initial disdain.

"Then you say that corvée is a natural thing and that it is what we are born to do?"

Facing Zhu Di's inexplicable question, Xia Yuanji was at a loss at first, and then a strange color flashed in his eyes.

Xia Yuanji suddenly thought of two questions.

The work of the Ministry of Revenue is about to be implemented, and the workload of the Ministry of Household Affairs is as if it has suddenly pressed down on several mountains. Under such an urgent situation, it is impossible for Zhu Di to think that he is idle, and it is impossible to drag him to jail for no reason. Listen to the lecture.

Could it be said that this is where Your Majesty heard about the abolition of corvee service? From the soft, calm voice on the other side of the wall?

"Hiss~"

Xia Yuanji's chest rose and fell, and he exhaled slightly, suppressing the bold idea in his mind.

If this idea is true, then I am afraid that I will really have to completely change my dismissive attitude just now!

Xia Yuanji grew up in a poor family and knew the sufferings of the people. Moreover, he was honest and simple, and his interests were not exactly the same as those of officials from the big landowner class in the court.

It is precisely because of this that Xia Yuanji can use a relatively objective stance to evaluate the policy of sharing slaves into acres.

Just four words, a recipe for saving the country.

The person who can come up with such a good way to save the country must be knowledgeable and visionary, and the other party explained the "origin of currency" so clearly, maybe I should listen with the humility I deserve.

In fact, this mentality was not a sudden change when the concept of "general equivalents" fell into the ears of Xia Yuanji.

At this moment, Xia Yuanji denied his previous inference.

The person on the other side of the wall is not simple!

At least, he saw the exchange very thoroughly.

The so-called "general equivalents" hit the nail on the head!

Xia Yuanji had never thought about the connection between exchange and the birth of currency.

I just received some inspiration today, and suddenly I felt that many things that I couldn't figure out before became suddenly clear to me.

And if the person opposite is the one who proposes "sharing the labor to the mother", then I am afraid that the importance I attach to his words will be greatly increased!

Xia Yuanji began to regard the people on the other side of the wall as equals who could discuss how to run the country and benefit the people from a distance, rather than ignorant and bold fanatics.

Just when Xia Yuanji's expression began to become serious, Zhu Di's thoughts began to slowly enter unknown areas.

Zhu Di suddenly remembered what the old monk Daoyan said before.

If you haven’t seen it before, do you think it is impossible to exist?

Is there really anything in this world that is natural and natural?

outside the wall.

Zhu Gaoxu didn't think much about it. He listened with interest and asked instead.

"Then the so-called 'general equivalent' is currency?"

"no."

"Items used for exchange contain human labor." Jiang Xinghuo explained patiently: "After the emergence of general equivalents, only when the items used for exchange are exchanged for general equivalents can the labor condensed on the items be recognized by society and become a direct social labor, thus actually having exchange value, and can be exchanged for other commodities at any time.”

"General equivalents have become the medium of commodity exchange and play the role of currency, but they are not yet currency."

“Only when the function of general equivalents is stabilized in gold, silver, and copper can it develop into currency.”

Li Jinglong held his chin in his hand. He suddenly felt that this statement seemed very interesting. It seemed that what Jiang Lang was talking about was not a child's exchange of toys like playing house.

Jiang Xinghuo continued: "There are two functions of currency. One is to serve as a unified calibration object to measure the value of items, and the other is to serve as a medium to facilitate the transaction of items."

“And gold, silver, and copper have these two functions, and that’s why they became currency.”

Li Jinglong had never seriously thought about how the value of commodities should be defined before, nor had he thought about why gold, silver, and copper became currency.

Hearing this, he involuntarily nodded slightly.

"etc."

Zhu Gaoxu, whose reflex arc was a bit long, had confusion in his eyes, and he was still stuck in the previous paragraph.

"Mr. Jiang said that human labor is condensed on objects?" Zhu Gaoxu asked.

"Of course!"

Zhu Gaoxu continued to ask incomprehensibly: "Objects are just objects, what does it have to do with human labor?"

Hearing this, Jiang Xinghuo's expression suddenly became serious.

Jiang Xinghuo spoke solemnly, word for word.

"You have to remember that all items and values ​​are created by workers!"

"This is the same as all history is the history of the people!"

"Actually, this is what I want to explain to you thoroughly."

Jiang Xinghuo's fingers stayed in the air, then slowly unfolded, entangled, and clenched into fists.

"Gold, silver, and copper carry the exchange of items, but the essence of exchange is the hard work and hard work of every worker after the social division of labor. They exchange blood and sweat for currency, and then use currency to exchange for daily necessities."

"Every currency is condensed with the blood and sweat of workers!"

As soon as these words came out, Li Jinglong and Zhu Gaoxu were stunned.

But at this time, when they looked at the silver coin in Jiang Xinghuo's hand, their expressions became different from before.

Currency embodies the blood and sweat of workers!

This sentence is no less enlightening and enlightening than the sentence in "Compassion for the Farmers": "Who knows that every grain of food on the plate is hard work"!

But in fact, isn't it really what Jiang Xinghuo said?

Money is simply a medium for exchanging items.

It is workers, not money itself, who truly create items of value.

It is the ordinary, nameless workers who have been buried in the long history of history who have created all the valuable things in the world.

The blood and sweat of workers are condensed on all items!

Most of this blood and sweat flowed into the hands of dignitaries through the exchange of goods facilitated by the medium of currency.

At this time, Zhu Gaoxu looked at the bag of golden beans in his arms.

Without Lai, it was obviously a scorching sun.

But I felt a little cold.

And Li Jinglong reflected for the first time, was the silver he saved in Cao Guogong's mansion really silver?

Isn’t it the pleas and curses of countless miners buried in collapsed silver mines?

Li Jinglong looked at the silver coin that he had given to Jiang Xinghuo and was actually thinking crazy.

"Zheng!"

The Ba Si Ba Wen silver coin bounced from Jiang Xinghuo's slender fingertips again and fell steadily into the palm of his hand.

Jiang Xinghuo sighed deeply as he looked at the silver coin shining brightly in the midday sun.

"In this world, currencies are the most innocent, because the exchange value they carry is actually created by thousands of workers with clean hands and down-to-earth feet."

"But in this world, currency is also the dirtiest. Ever since it came into this world, from head to toe, every pore of it has been dripping with blood and filth."

"Currency is closely related to every ordinary worker, so whether a country can correctly view and use currency will virtually determine whether the country's people are like water, or whether the country is full of chaos."

Jiang Xinghuo returned from solemnity and solemnity. He said calmly: "The first part, the origin and development of currency, has been finished. The second part, currency, commodity economy and inflation, I will start with this silver coin."

"This silver coin carries not only the official language of the Mongols, Phasiba, but also the ups and downs of the people of the Yuan Dynasty."

"Are you ready to hear this story?"

Hearing this, Xia Yuanji felt as if there were ants crawling on his body and twisted around in his chair unconsciously. He really couldn't sit still.

"Currency condenses the blood and sweat of workers!"

"How a country uses its currency determines whether the people's hearts are like water or whether the country is in chaos."

"Okay, well said! Great!" Xia Yuanji murmured.

"That's what I want to say, this is the way to run the country and benefit the people!"

Hearing Xia Yuanji's muttering, Zhu Di still sat in the chair with his arms folded and his body half-smiling.

"Xia Shangshu, get up, relax your muscles and bones, and take a walk."

Xia Yuanji breathed a sigh of relief and said thank you. He stood up and walked around in the not-so-large secret room, talking as he walked.

"The person opposite has really explained the essence of currency! He has also explained the relationship between currency, people and the country!"

"After receiving the lesson, I suddenly became enlightened. I suddenly became enlightened!"

Xia Yuanji saluted Zhu Di, "I am ignorant and have never understood your majesty's hard work. Today's half day is definitely not a waste. I have benefited a lot!"

Zhu Di still looked like he was "expected to be like this" and waved his hands indifferently.

"Who dares to name the person on the other side of the wall?"

Seeing that Xia Yuanji was eager to hunt, he asked Zhu Di again.

"Jiang Xinghuo."

Xia Yuanji thought hard for a moment, but had no impression of this name at all.

He said to Zhu Di sincerely: "Your Majesty, talents are rare!"

"If this man is a prisoner, I dare to ask your Majesty to give him a chance to redeem himself and make meritorious service. Based on what he just said, with such knowledge, it is more than enough to be a member of the household department. Talents are rare, and it is a pity to be imprisoned."

"Sun Shu'ao was raised in the sea, and Baili was raised in the city. Your Majesty, please agree to my request and let this person follow me to work in the Ministry of Household Affairs!"

Seeing that Zhu Di still smiled but did not answer, Xia Yuanji suddenly understood.

But his situation is too small. If the person opposite really proposes to work as a slave, then Zhu Di will definitely attach great importance to it. How can he be limited to his own department if he wants to be of great use?

Xia Yuanji walked around in a circle and returned to the same place.

There is no way, this special eavesdropping wall only has this length, and the secret room is destined to be small for the purpose of amplification and echo effects.

Xia Yuanji turned around and glanced inadvertently, only to find two transparent people in the room smiling at each other.

Xia Yuan Jiyou became more and more weird. How could the emperor and these two minor officials seem to have expected his reaction?

Before Xia Yuanji came to the case, he saw that the handwriting of the two clerks was correct and the records were clear and organized, so he became very curious.

"What are your names? Are you the prison officials?" Xia Yuanji asked in a low voice.

The person in question hung up his pen and said with some surprise in his tone: "Replying to Xia Shangshu, I am Guo Jing, the character is used, he is an imperial student, not a prison official. It's just that the reconstruction of Jinyiwei is in urgent need of manpower. Commander Ji The envoy 'borrowed' me and several classmates from Taixue."

Xia Yuanji realized in his heart that this was where Ji Gang was doing something wrong. The reconstruction of Jinyiwei requires a large number of scholars to serve as clerks, and court officials cannot be directly dispatched. Where in Nanjing has the most scholars? Of course he is too learned.

So they naturally tied up the scholars who needed them and sent them to prison. The so-called "borrowing" was just to give Ji Gang some face.

"What about you?" Xia Yuanji looked at the other person.

This person's face has a Chinese character. Although he is not very old, he looks square and straight, and very dull.

He put down his pen, stood up seriously and saluted, and then replied: "Chai Che, courtesy name Shuyu, Qiantang Juren. Our home is close to each other. This year, I wanted to come to Nanjing to gain experience, get to know more students and communicate with each other in preparation for the exam next year." Your Majesty's heavenly soldiers arrived quickly, so they stayed in the city, and they ran out of money. It happened that the Jinyi Guards were reorganized to recruit scholars, so they signed up and planned to earn some money before going home."

Hearing this, even Zhu Di looked sideways.

A student from the Imperial College and a scholar from the Imperial Academy would have been traveling around the mountains and rivers reciting poems and composing poems at normal times, but now by some strange combination of circumstances, he has become a 'prisoner' imprisoned here in another form.

"Listen carefully and everything you hear will be rotten in your stomach."

Zhu Di just said a few words, which made the two scholars who had been on tenterhooks for many days, whether they were smooth or upright, suddenly feel that the big stone in their hearts fell to the ground, but the surprise on their faces could no longer be hidden. .

The one named Guo Jing bowed silently to Xia Yuanji. Chai Che sat back on his chair, dipped in ink, and prepared to continue recording.

And Jiang Xinghuo, who was separated by a wall, naturally didn't know the story happening on the other side.

After a brief pause to collect his thoughts, Jiang Xinghuo's words led everyone into the thrilling historical torrent of the currency system change of the Yuan Dynasty a hundred years ago.

Thank you to the leader of the alliance for joining the alliance "he is in the clouds". I wish the leader of the alliance long blessings and peace every year!